County commissioner’s reaction: The least expensive performing arts center is the one we already have.
Gretchen Cochran
Original Air Date: Jan. 15, 2024
Host: How much will it cost to keep the recently flooded Van Wezel Performing Arts Center? A fraction of what building a new one would cost. That’s according to the latest engineering report presented on Monday to the City of Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee. Gretchen Cochran has the details.
Gretchen Cochran: There’s been a long-running schism between Sarasota’s historic preservation people and the club for growth folks. And then there are the climate change deniers versus the Mother Earth lovers.
Those issues and more were playing out in the City of Sarasota’s Purple Ribbon Committee hearing Monday night to hear one more engineer’s report on what it would take to bring the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center up to snuff.
The engineers suggest a low-cost movable barrier used along the Mississippi to prevent the next flooding…
You know that building. When you’re coming across the John Ringling Bridge into town from the barrier islands, it’s that huge round purple shell shape off to your left. It’s the 52-year-old performing arts hall where “Shrek” recently played on stage and “Funny Girl” is playing now.
The report Monday was presented by Karins Engineering of Sarasota, the same firm that did an engineering study in 2021. But something happened between then and now. Here’s what Professional Facilities Management out of Rhode Island observed back then, based on Karins’ work:
70% of Van Wezel sits below flood level. The heating and air conditioning system will require replacement by 2025, and the roof, generator and main switchgear need replacing. They concluded the design is outdated and additional seating is needed. Here’s what they said back when:
“Millions and millions of dollars later, and you will still have a building that is 50+ years old, sits too close to the bay, will be taken offline for 24 to 36 months and has not been totally renovated from top to bottom.”
But now, Karins is seeing possibilities, based on evolving technology, newly designed products and maybe some re-ordered values: Regarding flooding, one of the Karins representatives said this at the meeting:
Karins representative: Tampa General successfully kept the water out with the proprietary system there, and as a matter of fact, St. Pete just entered a contract with the same company to purchase one to surround one of their really vulnerable lift stations. Up in the Mississippi River area, those water-filled sausage-looking things have been pretty successful as well.
… or the costlier AquaFence technology used by Tampa General Hospital.
GC: He showed a photo of a pink cylinder floating in a bay of sea water. That breakwater would cost about $800,000 and take a couple days to install and take down.
Mark Smith, an architect and Sarasota County commissioner, liked this new study. “The Karins’ report confirms my opinion of two years ago,” he wrote on Facebook Tuesday. “The Van Wezel structure is in stable and sound condition that needs flood proofing, reinforcing and updating. We can save, protect and renew our historic performing arts hall for under a tenth of the cost of a new SPAC.” We can flood proof the building, he said. We’re talking about spending ten times as much to build the Sarasota Performing Arts Center.
The report points out that there was no record of flooding through 2023. Hurricane Helene’s storm surge was 6 ½ feet in downtown Sarasota. The Grand Foyer and the lounge had 1 to 2 inches of seawater.
Other points were:
A Florida Building Code Review said the team did not identify significant architectural or structural code violations but recommended reinforcing the main roof beams.
The roof is generally in good condition and well-maintained.
A mold and moisture inspection revealed indoor air quality was generally within acceptable levels.
They recommended replacement of the mechanical equipment.
The building envelope is in fair condition. Many elements are near the end of their useful life. The estimated replacement cost is a bit over $1 million.
Theatergoers will be interested to know the seats will need reupholstering in 5 years; the rigging has 10 years, and the lighting 15 years of life left.
However, the acoustics could be better, and the audio and video systems require replacement.
The proposed fixes came to $17 million.
Last year, Smith and other county commissioners voted against tax funding for design costs related to the new performing arts center. The city, which owns the Van Wezel, needs the county’s support and funding to go forth with a new center.
Milton flooded the basement of the Van Wezel. Promotional photo of the Roskamp Auditorium.
The engineers didn’t look at everything.
Regular patrons complain about long lines for the restrooms and long rows of seats with no center aisle. The engineering study did not address the number of toilets, and rather than the long rows, the study referred to the location of wheelchair spaces needing to be interspersed throughout. But that would reduce the number of seats from 1740 to 1500.
Seat numbers at Van Wezel, along with acoustics, have been sore points for years. Part of the impetus to build a new performing arts center to replace the Van Wezel was to gain more seats and thus draw first-run Broadway shows. The big shows go to Tampa now, where they can draw larger crowds, thus making more money for producers.
The Karins engineer added:
Karins representative: We’re thinking about how to prolong the life of the building, regardless of something else happening.
GC: That something else, of course, would be the proposed new Performing Arts Center. It’s the project for which world-renowned architect Renzo Piano has been hired to design a place that many envision would replace the Van Wezel. It would be diagonally across the huge parking lot in the area now called “The Bay.”
Kelly Franklin is a preservationist long-working to save her “purple cow.” She concurred with Smith.
Kelly Franklin: I’m not making that call, but the top end of what they suggested if we did all of that was $17 million, which is a lot less than, say, $600 million.
GC: You can find the most recent Karins report on the city’s website. The Purple Ribbon panel will be meeting Jan. 27 with A. G. Lafley, director of “The Bay,” the public-private project coordinating park activities and overall planning for the large lot west of Tamiami Trail and sprawling between 10th Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts. They will then meet Feb. 13, 5 p.m. at City Hall, for an engineering update.
This has been Gretchen Cochran for WSLR News.
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